JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Seven-year-old Kelly Yoshida reacted while playing with sparklers on the beach during Fourth of July festivities at Ala Moana Beach Park. Behind Yoshida was her father, Minoru.

Crackdowns credited in quiet Fourth

Police issued 10 fireworks and 18 liquor law citations

Honolulu police made three arrests and issued 10 citations for fireworks violations on Oahu after heavily publicizing stepped-up enforcement against illegal fireworks and drinking in public parks during the Fourth of July.

Police cited 18 people for liquor law violations at Ala Moana Beach Park from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. yesterday, and four fireworks citations.

More than 100 uniformed and plainclothes officers were on duty at Ala Moana, where tens of thousands gathered starting Monday to watch the city's annual fireworks show.

Police said the same number of officers as last year were on duty and did not cost the city more money. But the only difference this year was publicity by the media, Honolulu Police Department spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii said.

"The bottom line is our efforts are only as good as the community's support behind us," Fujii said.

An 8-year-old girl was treated for minor burns Tuesday afternoon, which was the only injury on Oahu this year related to fireworks.

Paramedics were called to the girl's Rycroft Street home at 5:51 p.m. and treated her at the scene for burns to her arm, emergency services department spokesman Bryan Cheplic said.

The only other medical emergency involved an elderly woman who had difficulty breathing after the fireworks display at Ala Moana Beach Park. The incident was reported at 8:58 p.m.

In addition to the smoke, the woman's age may have also been a factor in her condition, Cheplic said. She was taken via ambulance to Straub Hospital and Clinic in serious but still stable condition.

"Compared to last year, this year's celebration was much safer, with far fewer accidents and incidents of illegal fireworks activity," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in a written statement issued yesterday.

"There was much more awareness this year about the dangers associated with fireworks activity in public parks where thousands of people, many of them children, congregate," Hannemann said. "We had great cooperation from local residents who camped overnight on the 3rd in Ala Moana Beach Park. They all acted responsibly and contributed to the success of the Independence Day holiday by taking good care of our park, our city, our home."

Increased awareness led to a 27 percent increase in calls made for fireworks violations from a year ago, with police responding to 578 calls, Fujii said.

On Maui, police reported six calls for fireworks violations. The Big Island reported 22 calls. Maui police did not have the number of arrests issued this year, and Big Island police made no arrests.

Juveniles and adults convicted of using fireworks in a public area could face jail time or as much as a $2,000 fine, police said.

THE POLICE BLOTTER

Fourth of July arrests and citations for fireworks and liquor law violations: